Tove Lo, the Swedish pop sensation who first came to the scene with her hit single “Habits,” hasn’t slowed down one bit. Her latest full length album, BLUE LIPS, built on the success of her sophomore Lady Wood, adding to its established and polished pop sound.
Tove’s brash and explicit lyricism continue to be a common trait through all of her releases thus far, and is especially relevant on her latest single from BLUE LIPS, “Bitches.” With a title such as this, it’s no wonder the lyrics within will contain explicit meanings. The Swedish songstress doesn’t wrap her confident exploits in double-entendres either. The candid topics and lines are bluntly delivered. “Bitches” details Tove Lo’s fluid sexuality, as she helps her male lover learn the proper way to please a woman. Tove is confident in her teachings, as she speaks from experience in the field. “I’ve had one or two, even a few,” she sings. “Yeah, more than you.” Not only are Tove Lo’s lyrical contents confident in their sexuality, but the visuals for her singles take them the extra mile. Her video for the banger “Disco Tits” was especially creative and humorous in its nature, detailing the pop stars one-night-stand with a muppet. The video for “Bitches” is no different, as Tove teams up with fellow pop artists Charli XCX, Icona Pop, Elliphant, and Alma. The end result is a twisted, humorous, and confident narrative, as the band of females help a couple get through a bit of a rough patch in their relationship. However, instead of a traditional couples therapy, the pop stars help the couple add a bit of spice into the bedroom. Tove’s bold personality and music make her stand out in the crowded pop field, as the Swedish songwriter breaks the glass ceiling of explicit lyricism with every musical venture. Where men are expected and accepted in talking dirty in their own work, society often finds the same brash statements a bit too much for their female counterparts. Tove Lo won’t accept that. Not only is “Bitches” an empowering, explicit, juicy pop anthem, but it normalizes sexuality for women, especially those in the LGBT community. For Tove Lo, exploring sexuality and being confident in it’s exploits is an empowering position. Flaunting this proudly, Tove Lo was the perfect choice to bring to NYC’s Pride Island. Tomorrow, New York City will host Tove Lo, alongside Lizzo, RuPaul winner Sasha Velour, and more to celebrate exactly what the pop star promotes with “Bitches.” Though the song may seem like a dirty pop adventure on the surface, beneath it and within all of Tove Lo’s music is a deeper purpose. Sexuality is not something women should have to hide. Tove Lo is here to bring it out. Watch the music video for "Bitches," featuring Charli XCX, Icona Pop, Elliphant, and Alma, below, and catch Tove Lo in New York City at Pride Island tomorrow. More details at www.nycpride.org.
Article by: Brendan Swogger
Brendan Swogger is a music writer and college student in Portland, OR. He is the Creative Director for The Crush blog. You can follow him on IG and Twitter @indiealtpdx.
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#WellnessWednesday: Sleep Solutions in the Music Industry’s Insomniac Culture by Suzanne Paulinski6/13/2018 After over 15 years in the music industry, I have heard my fair share of “sleep-shaming.” That’s when you’re at an event or meeting and mention how tired you are or how little sleep you’ve gotten, to which someone says, “Oh, please! I wish I got that much, I’m only on [insert 1 less number of hours of sleep here]!” I’m sure many of you have heard sleep-shaming, or have even been the sleep-shamer yourself. If you are ever in that situation, I challenge you to say, “I’m sorry to hear that. I hope you’re able to get more sleep tonight.” The issue with sleep-shaming is that it assumes sleep deprivation somehow proves you want “it” more, whatever “it” is. In reality, though, if you truly want it more, you would advocate for more sleep; you would be bragging instead about all the Z’s you caught last night. I’ve learned the hard way that pulling all-nighters and living a busy, rather than productive, lifestyle does nothing but put you on the fast track to Burnoutsville. After understanding the ways to work smarter, not harder, I became a mindset coach for music professionals. In addition to time blocking, meditating, and exercising, I emphasize sleep as foundational for success. A main priority in my coaching, therefore, is demonstrating how slowing down is key to building a sustainable career in music. Think of the Oxygen Mask Principle (the directive they give you on every flight you’re on): when the oxygen masks come down, make sure you place yours on first before assisting anyone else. What if those of us in the music world applied that basic principle to our hectic lives within this competitive industry? Below are three ways you can make sure you’re taken care of in order to be your best for others, and do your best in your career: #1: Set aside 6-8 hours for sleep Every day we experience new things, we meet new people, and we have 101 ideas we would like to act on at some point. Our minds simply need to rest in order to digest it all. 6-8 hours of sleep every night allows not only our bodies to regenerate cells, break down nutrients, and repair damages, but also our minds to process information and focus more acutely when we’re awake. Proper sleep is about these significant health benefits as it is about our creativity and even our immediate safety. Many studies have shown that working on little-to-no sleep has similar effects to working while intoxicated. This study from the New Zealand Occupational & Environmental Health Research Center found that, “after 17–19 hours without sleep… performance on some tests was equivalent or worse than that at a BAC of 0.05%. Response speeds were up to 50% slower for some tests and accuracy measures were significantly poorer than at this level of alcohol. After longer periods without sleep, performance reached levels equivalent to…BAC of 0.1%.” The BAC legal limit in most states is .08%. So if you’ve ever been in the studio all night and then driven home you are literally putting yourself and anyone else on the road in danger. If you pull an all-nighter and then perform on stage that night, you may as well be performing drunk. Sleep is necessary for surviving life on the road, for carrying out tasks that matter to the growth of your career, and for maximizing the creativity and focus that fuel your success. #2: Turn off devices before bed or keep them in a separate room It’s far too common to be on your computer or tablet before and throughout bedtime. It’s also common to leave the TV on or keep your phone by your bed as your alarm clock. As music professionals in particular, there is a pressure to work until the point of passing out and to keep these devices readily available at all times. Working in this way is problematic firstly in that it promotes sloppy output that likely will need to be redone. The bigger picture of these electronic habits is that the blue light emitted by your devices greatly disrupts one’s sleep rhythm and internal clock. The National Sleep Foundation strongly urges people to shut off all devices before turning in for the night. They explain, “Using TVs, tablets, smartphones, laptops, or other electronic devices before bed… suppresses the release of the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin, and makes it more difficult to fall asleep.” Many of us in this industry feel like insomniacs. While it may be a hard habit to break, shutting off your devices is better for you and your work in the long run. If you’re someone, like me, who “needs” the TV on or likes to read from a tablet before bed, remember to fix your settings in order to reduce the blue light that is emitted (many devices now have a “night time” setting for this very reason). You can also purchase yellow glasses that will block out the blue light when looking at the screens of your devices. Ideally, avoiding the screens and the never-ending stimulation of social media at nighttime will ensure a better night’s sleep and, in turn, an easier time getting up in the morning and focusing on the tasks at hand. #3: Look at your plan before you turn in and after you wake up After you’ve turned off your devices for the evening, take a look at your calendar, task list, or wherever you might keep your plan for each day. Decide before you fall asleep what 1-3 tasks you will focus on the next day. When you wake up, before you turn your devices back on, look at that list again to remind yourself of these goals. While 1-3 tasks may feel like a light load, keep in mind: life happens. That is why I suggest avoiding what I call “The Purse Curse”--filling every hour of your day with something much like you would fill a large bag to the brim. Give yourself room to actually accomplish something. Rather than 10 tasks getting pushed back due to traffic, you’ll want to build in buffer time for those things. Having expected the unexpected, you can still accomplish what you set out to do. Taking these measures to stay motivated and productive are priceless as they contribute to an overall positive mindset. Slow and steady... Succeeding in the music industry is by no means easy, which is exactly why you should do what you can to ensure you are up for the challenge. Think long-term by taking small, focused action in the short-term. As someone who was used to burning the candle on all ends, I know that a change in lifestyle takes considerable time and discipline. New habits do not happen overnight; they are developed through concerted efforts to replace detrimental behavior with healthier routines. With this determination to avoid burnout, know that you are capable of making real progress towards your goals. Sweet dreams! Guest Post by Suzanne Paulinski
Suzanne Paulinski is the founder of The Rock/Star Advocate and author of The Rock/Star Life Planner. You can connect with her @RockstarAdvo or in her Facebook group The Rock/Star Collective. 
In January of this year, multi-national and award-winning folk singer-songwriter Raye Zaragoza released a powerful video for her single “American Dream,” off of her Fight For You EP. Her new song, “American Dream,” was inspired by the destruction caused by Donald Trump’s recent election, the huge lack of mainstream media for Standing Rock, and the struggles Zaragoza faced while growing up.
Zaragoza’s EP shows her compassion and dedication to justice and equality for all. Raye says, “This album is about finding yourself and finding your voice. It’s about maturing and realizing that you can make a difference if you so choose.” In a recent interview with Guitar Girl Mag, Zaragoza said that “‘American Dream’ tells the story of my family and challenges the outdated concept of the American Dream with its white picket fence and house in the suburbs, because it’s never been truly inclusive of all American people.” Zaragoza’s American Dream focuses on moving away from the hatred the Trump administration has fed our country and taking a stand against the injustice. “Change is a choice, and it can start with me,” she sings in the song’s chorus. This is Zaragoza’s American Dream. One that includes her in the narrative, and gives a voice to those willing to make that change and stand up to the hatred. The video is just as moving as the song itself, with imagery that shines a light on all that has been going on in America. It makes you stop for a minute and think about all of the hatred, violence, and social injustice happening in our country right now. All of the bad things happening around us are not permanent, but they can’t change unless we help make the change. Zaragoza’s song inspires and encourages those who listen to go out a#nd make a difference in their own communities. This summer Raye Zaragoza will be on tour with Dispatch. Find dates and more information at www.rayezmusic.com.
Written by: Mariah Bounds
Edited by: Brendan Swogger Mariah Bounds is the chapter leader for #WomenCrush NOLA. Some of her favorite things to do are dance, photography, exploring Nola, trying new foods, and going out to shows. |